Improvement in traversing mechanisms for machine-guns



2 Sheets--Sheet1.

' n. 1. GATLIN e. Traversing Mechanisms for Machine-Guns. No. 145,563.

I" BY Auauevs.

WITNESSES M 2 Sheets--Sheet 2'.

Patented en.` 16,1873.

.Buy WELL?? UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.'

RICHARD J. GATLING, ,or HARTFORD, coNnncTioUT.

IMPROVEMENT EN TRAVERSING MECHANISMS FOR MACHINE-GUNS.'

Specification forming part of Leiters Patent No. 145,563, dated December 16, 1873*; application filed October-.25, 1873.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that LIRICHARD J; GATLING, of Hartford, in the county of Hartford and State of Connecticut, have inventeda new and useful Improvement in Traversing Mechanism for Machine Gun', of which the following is a speciiication: I

Figure 1, ,Sheet 1, is a rear view of my improved traversing mechanism. Fig. 2, Sheet l, is a detail top view of a part of the same, part being broken away to show the construction. Fig. 3, Sheet 2, is a cross-section of the same taken through the line a' x, Fig. 2. Fig. 4, Sheet 2, is a longitudinal section of the pinsocket, showing the pin in place. Figs. 5 and 6, Sheet 2,are detail side views of different sizes of the grooved cylinder. Fig. 7, Sheet 2, is a view illustrating the manuel n which the shot are thrown.

Similar letters of reference indicate correspondin g parts.

4The invention will iirst be fully described', and then pointed out in the claims.

` A'is a bar or cylinder, upon the upper side,

of the inner end of which is formed a T-ange, B, to enter a T-groove upon the lower side of the gun, so that the rear end of the gun may slide upon the said flange to give the sweep. In the lower 'side of the inner endof the cylinder A is formed a transverse groove, C, the cavity of which is a little more than a halfcylinder, to receive the ball formed upon the upper end of the screw, by which the breech of the gun is raised and lowered in sighting it. The cylinder A is perforated longitudinally to :receive the screw D, which has a hand-wheel, E, attached to its outer end, and which is swiveled to the said cylinder A. The forward side pf the cylinder A is slotted to receive the neck 'of the nut F, which its upon the screw D, and is cast uponl the rear side of the vertical socket G, in which is tted a pin, H, which is supported by a lever-catch, I, the toe, formed upon the lower end of which passes in through a hole in the lower part of the socket G, and enters a ring-groove in the lower partof the pin H, to support said pin in place, two grooves'being formed in said pin, so that it may be supported in gear and out' of gea-r. The upper end of the lever-catch I is held out by a smal spring interposed between it and the socket G,as shown in Fig. 4. Thev upper end of the pin H has a friction-sleeve, J, placed upon it to diminish friction, and enters a groove in the cylinder' K, which is attached to the forward endof the crank-screw, by which-:the gun is moved upon its pivot, to discharge itand give it the sweep. In the cylinder K are formed ,two grooves, Mk2, to receive the end of the pin H. The groove k1 is straight, as shown in Figs. 1,5, and 6, and is :designed for use when direct .ring is required. l

When it is desired to sweep a portion of the. field with they shot, the end of t-he pin H is inserted in thei cam-groove k2, which has a cam incline formed init upon each side of the cylinder K, so that, as the said cylinder is re volvcd, the gun may be oscillated horizontally to give it the required sweep. v

The sweep of the gun may be varied by-va rying the length of the cylinder K, and conse'- quently of the cams or inclines of the groove k?. The cylinder shown in Fig. 6 isA designed to sweep through the space of one degree, the one shown iu Fig. l through one and'a'half degrees, and the one in Fig. 5 through two degrees. y

By this construction, if the gun is being fired at a body of troops withinthe range represented by the full lines in Fig. 7, by turning the screw D a little, the sweep of the gun may be changed so as to be represented bythe dotted lines with arrow-heads, and by turning the screw still more, the sweep will'be represented by the dotted lines without'arrow-heads. In the same way the sweep of the gun may be shifted to the left by turning the screw D in the other direction, sol that the sweep of the gun may be changed to follow. a moving body of troops without moving the trail, which a1 ways necessitates a resightingof the gun.

In the same way, when the gun is used for direct tiring, the line of tire maybe changed to the right or left by turning the screw D in one or the other direction.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent- 1. The grooved cylinder K k1 7a2, in combination with a guide-pin, H, for controlling the line of tire and the sweep of the gun, substantially as hercinshown and described.

2. The combination of an adjustable socket, tion Wit-h the screWD, guidepin H, and grooved G, guide-pin H, and grooved eylinde K k1 k2, cylinder K k1 k?, substantially as herein shown for changing the sweep and line of iire of the and described, and for the purpose set forth.

gun substantially as herein shown end de- Scried. RICHARD J. GATLING.

3. The zmged, glgooved, perforated, and Witnesses:

slotted cylinder or bar A, and the adjust-able EDGAR T. WELLES,

socket G, provided with a nut, F, in combina- DAVID L. A BEBDEIN. 

